TECH TIPS – More Great Google TipsHere's a Quick Tip - to view the links in the
article below in a new window, right click on the link and click on Open in New
Window. OR, you may be able to hold
down the SHIFT key while clicking on the link to do the same (some pop-up
blocking software prevents this option).

Google (http://google.com)
continues to grow with more and more neat features. We’ve talked about some of
them. Here are more of the cool ones.

Google Toolbar: Many great features to it – the
best is that it blocks pop-up ads. Download and install it from here:
http://toolbar.google.com/

Google Toolbar for Mac is not out yet – but it you
are a Mac user and you want a Google Toolbar for Mac, you can sign a
petition for it here:
http://www.gopple.org/

Everything below here works whether you have a Mac or
PC.

Search Tip: Use quotation marks to narrow your
search: This eliminates finding pages that don’t relate to the information
you really want. Example: Type in marshall adult education and
you get 343,000 web pages. Type in “marshall adult education” (with the
quotes) and you get 178 web pages.

Search Tip: Phrase your search in the form of an
answer (just the opposite of Jeopardy): Example: Type (use the
quotes): "the number one search engine is"

Search Tip: Use the hyphen (-) to exclude words
from your search: Example: the word tigers finds 4.5 million
websites. The words tigers –detroit eliminates 1.7 million web sites
that have to do with the Detroit Tigers from the search results. (The
Detroit Tigers lost 119 games last year – the new American League record for the
most losses in a single season - but I digress!)
(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/baseball/mlb/09/22/bc.bba.tigers.royals.ap/?cnn=yes)

Use Google as a telephone directory: Type:
phonebook:pizza hut marshall, mn (no space after the word phonebook) You
can also just eliminate the word phonebook to find the same information
plus websites that contain the name. (Did you know you can order a pizza
on-line from Pizza Hut -
http://www.pizzahut.com/ ). Google will also do a reverse telephone
number lookup. Example: type (507) 532-4443 (Pizza Hut’s
phone number – it’s in my PDA!)

Google handles digits in a remarkable way – try these:

Type a FedEx or UPS package number to track your
package.

Google is a calculator – type in an equation:
39+10*9-70 (that’s my age!) There is also a nice “More about
calculator” help link at the results page.

Google is a units-of-measurement converter:
Type: tablespoons in a half cup (I can never remember that
one when I’m baking cookies).

Google is a stock ticker: Type: AAPL (I
have to keep tabs on my Apple stock!)

Google is an Atlas: Type in an area code
or a zipcode. You will get a link to a map of that area.

Check out a UPC code: Type in a UPC
code and you will get a link telling you about that product. Be sure you
type in all the numbers – including the little ones on the left and right (My
favorite UPC code: 077260000064)

Track an airline flight: Type in the flight
number of a flight. Example:aa412 (for American Airlines
flight 412) You get 2 links showing you the location and details of the
flight.

Type in a VIN number (vehicle identification
number): Find the car’s year, make and model

Try Google’s Local Search page. Go here:
http://local.google.com/lochp Type in want you want to search for
locally, then type in your zip code. Example: Hmm…I think I’m in the mood for
pizza tonight… Type: pizza (in the Search terms box) Type my area code:
56258 (in the address box). There they are – all the pizza places in
the area. (I didn’t know there was a Pizza Ranch in Tyler).